Nebraska Medicine

Introduction

With a history dating back to 1869, Nebraska Medicine is known for excellence, innovation and quality patient care. As the teaching hospital for the University of Nebraska’s health sciences programs, this 624 acute-care bed facility has an international reputation for providing solid organ and bone marrow transplantation services and is well known nationally and regionally for its oncology, neurology and cardiology programs.

Nebraska Medicine was created in 1997 by combining the operations of University Hospital, Bishop Clarkson Memorial Hospital, and their ambulatory care facilities. Nebraska Medicine is Nebraska’s largest health care facility – with more than 4,900 employees and more than 1,000 physicians on staff. Its physicians practice in all major specialties and sub-specialties attracting patients from across the region and from around the world. As the primary teaching hospital for the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medicine hosts more than 350 medical and surgical residents and assists in the training and education of more than 1,000 students.

In fiscal year 2007, Nebraska Medicine treated more than 26,000 inpatients and had more than 445,000 encounters in outpatient settings including diagnostic testing, radiology and specialty clinics. The medical center has treated patients from all 50 states and the District of Columbia and 43 foreign countries.

Nebraska Medicine was named one of America’s best hospitals in U.S. News & World Report’s 2008 publication for Cancer and Neurology & Neurosurgery.

Nebraska Medicine's stroke program, heart failure program and acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) program have all received the "Gold Seal of Approval" certification from The Joint Commission, making these services the first nationally certified programs of their kind in the state of Nebraska. Nebraska Medicine is also the only hospital in the state that qualifies for the Level 4 (highest) designation per the standards of the National Association of Epilepsy Centers.

Major Facilities

Nebraska Medicine’s main campus, located in midtown Omaha, is anchored by Clarkson Tower, University Tower, Lied Transplant Center and the Hixson-Lied Center. Adjacent to this campus is the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the hospital’s academic partner. Additional Omaha facilities include Oakview Medical Building, nine outpatient clinics and Nebraska Orthopaedic Hospital. Approximately 300 rotational clinics in six different states bear Nebraska Medicine banner. The hospital provides a communication network to facilitate the education of, and sharing of expertise with, small rural facilities.

The Lied Transplant Center embodies our commitment to transplant and cancer patients. The 13-story building houses a 24-hour clinic, research labs and suites for patients and families. The Lied Transplant Center is operated more like a hotel than a hospital. The patient care model, cooperative care helps the patient make the transition from hospital to home. The caregiver learns how to administer medications and watch for signs of trouble.

The Eppley Cancer Center teams University of Nebraska Medical Center researchers with patient care physicians for the best possible treatment of cancer. The Eppley Cancer Center (through the Peggy D. Cowdery Cancer Center at Nebraska Medicine) treats patients from around the world.

In 2005, the Hixson-Lied Center for Clinical Excellence was opened with a formal dedication and public tours. The new facility covers 165,000 square feet over four floors. The building houses emergency, radiology, cardiology, surgery and the newborn intensive care unit. Consolidating services into one building will lead to more efficient care, greater excellence and innovation in medicine.

Also in 2005, CDC Director Julie Gerberding, MD joined physicians at Nebraska Medicine for the opening of our Biocontainment Unit. At the time of the opening, the Biocontainment Unit at Nebraska Medicine was the only center accessible to civilians in the United States equipped to safely care for anyone exposed to a contagious and dangerous disease such as avian flu. Early isolation of an infected patient is essential - buying time for public health officials and providing the chance to either stop an outbreak - or rapidly contain one. The Unit’s location, on the same campus as Nebraska’s Bio-Safety Level-3 laboratory, allows for timely diagnosis and immediate treatment of patients.

In 2006, Nebraska Medicine announced plans to develop a new 100 bed hospital in the southeastern community of Bellevue. With the rapid growth of this area just outside Omaha’s city limits there is a demand for a full service inpatient facility with emergency care, obstetrics, inpatient and outpatient surgery, intensive care, cardiac catheterization, pharmacy, radiology and lab testing. Plans will allow future expansion for another 100 beds as the need arises.

In 2008, Nebraska Medicine opened a new Diabetes Center, the only one of its kind in the state and in the region dedicated to offering comprehensive care for patients with diabetes. A “One Stop Shop” for diabetes, the Diabetes Center combines the best of clinical care, education and research while drawing upon a full-range of top-rated specialists and cutting edge technology to provide unsurpassed treatment and care. Nebraska Medicine also opened an outpatient cancer center in West Omaha. The center offers a multidisciplinary, full service approach to cancer treatment with diagnostic imaging, radiation oncology and chemotherapy services.

Renewed Commitment to Quality

Nebraska Medicine is committed to focusing on quality improvement. In 2002, the medical center expanded its existing quality and performance improvement systems to include Six Sigma processes. The hospital partnered with GE to foster a cultural change within the organization that would transform it into one that was “quality-minded” in all aspects of its operations. Operating with quality at the constant forefront of its organizational mind is not only the right thing to do; the external environment also drives it. Assessment of quality by both patients and payors is on the rise. Adoption of programs like Six Sigma, Balanced Scorecard, Crew Resource Management, the Supply Chain initiative, and participation in programs such as the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s 100K Lives campaign, demonstrate the hospital’s commitment to seek out best practice models and apply them to Nebraska Medicine operations.